Just days after dominating Bayern Munich with ease, Hansi Flick’s young talents from La Masia have once again made headlines.
Analyzing a clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid in David vs Goliath terms may seem far-fetched, yet the reality of the gap that has widened between the two teams in recent times makes it quite accurate.
Consider that this match showcased a nearly invincible Real Madrid side, enhanced by the acquisition of Kylian Mbappe, facing a vulnerable Barcelona squad featuring no less than six La Masia graduates in the starting lineup.
However, with talents like Lamine Yamal among them, concerns fade away. The young player is already proving to be a standout.
The night was defined by a spectacular Barcelona display, characterized by Flick’s brilliant strategy of a well-organized high defensive line, which effectively stymied their opponents while enabling Barcelona to exploit transitions through press resistance and precise passing.
While Raphinha delivered an outstanding performance and Marc Casado shone in midfield, it was impossible to overlook Yamal, who netted his record-breaking goal to make it 3-0 in the 77th minute.
What a finish from Lamine Yamal for his first goal in ElClásico!! 😱😱
An incredible night for Barcelona and the Bernabeu is stunned 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/zJIcQUd0iQ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 26, 2024
Extraordinary as usual from the young prodigy, he required just two touches to seal the match—one to gather a superb pass from Raphinha, and the other to blast the ball into the net beyond a helpless Andriy Lunin.
Thanks for coming, Andriy, but maybe sit this one out next time. This kid is truly something special.
Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in El Clasico history with his goal, contributing to the 3-0 scoreline, but what truly stood out was his exuberant attitude after scoring.
While typically a young player’s bravado is displayed through their gameplay, the 17-year-old took it further, igniting the Bernabeu crowd with his goal celebration.
After adding to the misery of the opposition with the fourth goal in a 4-0 rout, he dashed to the corner flag mimicking Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous ‘calma’ celebration, then playfully breaking into a dance—reminiscent of Vinicius Junior’s signature moves.
As if being exceptionally gifted at football at such a young age wasn’t enough, he’s now shown he can stir things up too. It’s a delight to witness.
The last time La Blaugrana arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu and secured a league victory against Los Blancos was back in 2022.
In that match, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice and Sergio Busquets anchored the midfield in a commanding 4-0 triumph, underscoring the journey Barcelona has undergone since then.
Even at that time, though, it felt somewhat hollow. Their triumph in the 2022-23 La Liga season under Xavi masked existing issues and highlighted their excessive reliance on economic levers.
Thus, when Xavi was let go, a comprehensive reset was imperative. Flick has executed this brilliantly, tapping into the essence that makes Barcelona unique.
Winning is one thing, but achieving it with flair, powered by La Masia, carries an entirely different sentiment.
Yamal is crucial in rekindling that spirit and propelling Barcelona back to prominence—even if he’s so young that he’s altering the color of his braces to match the occasion’s red and blue.
It’s quite astonishing. The chances of us making it to the professional level feel utterly impossible.
Barcelona now enjoys a commanding lead at the top of La Liga with 10 victories out of 11 matches, having established a six-point cushion over their Clasico adversaries thanks to this significant away win.
The Flick era is just beginning, and Yamal is only getting started—just wait until he perfects the shush celebration.
Image Source: sbonsi / Shutterstock
